Objective

Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is a protocol used for network management, troubleshooting, and maintenance. SNMP records, stores, and shares information with the help of two key software: a network management system (NMS) that runs on manager devices and an agent that runs on managed devices. The WAP551 and WAP561 support SNMPv2 and SNMPv3.

This article explains how to configure general SNMP settings on the WAP551 and WAP561 access points.

Applicable Devices

• WAP551

• WAP561

Software Version

• 1.0.4.2

SNMP General Settings

Step 1. Log in to the Access Point Configuration Utility and choose SNMP > General. The General page opens:

Step 2. In the Global Settings area, check the Enable check box to enable SNMP.

Step 3. Enter the UDP port number in the UDP Port field. The SNMP agent checks this port for access requests. The default port is 161.

Timesaver: If you do not need SNMPv2 configuration skip the rest of the steps. Jump to Step 11 to save current configuration.

Step 4. Enter a read-only community name. The community name is a user created valid name that acts as a simple authentication mechanism or password to restrict the devices on the network that can request data from the SNMP agent. The community string sent in the request packet sent by sender has to match the community string on the agent device.  The default string for read-only is usually "public". The read-only password gives authority to retrieve information only.

Step 5. Enter a read-write community name for permitted SNMP set operations. Only requests from the devices that identify themselves with this community name are accepted. This is a user created name. The default is "private". This is a password that allows you both to retrieve information from the agent and to modify settings on that agent device.

Note: It is advisable to change both the passwords to something more customized in order to avoid security attack from outsiders.

Step 6. Click the appropriate radio button All or User Defined to choose a management station preference. The management station monitors and updates the values in the management information base (MIB).

• All — Allows all the stations in the network to access the WAP through SNMP as a management station.

• User Defined — Limits the access to a specific station or group of stations.

Step 7. If you have chosen All in Step 6, skip this step. If you have chosen User Defined in the previous step, enter the IPv4 or IPv6 addresses of the management stations that you would like to have access to the WAP in the NMS IPv4 Address/Name and NMS IPv6 Address/Name fields respectively. A network management system (NMS) refers to the management stations that execute applications that monitor and control managed devices.

Step 8. Enter the global community name associated with SNMP traps in the Trap Community field. Traps are notification from agent to manager containing agent information. Traps sent from the device use the string entered as a community name.

Step 9. Check the host IP address type check box and choose the appropriate type of host IP address (IPv4 or IPv6) from the drop-down list in the Host IP Address Type field. This refers to the addresses or names of appropriate management stations who receive traps from managed devices.

Step 10. In the Hostname/IP Address field in the Trap Destination Table, enter the host names or IP addresses of up to three hosts to receive SNMP traps.

Step 11. Click Save to save the configuration.